AMNA--Solution to the coastal shipping sector's problems of
sustainability and privatisations of the country's ports top the list
of priorities of newly appointed Shipping & Aegean Minister Costis
Mousouroulis, who briefed reporters on Monday.

He clarified that he will meet with all parties involved for open and
honest cooperation, adding that the presidential decree defining the
jurisdiction of the newly established ministry has not been signed
yet.amna

Referring to the sea cruise sector, he said that international experience
should not be bypassed.

Mousouroulis also underlined the importance of drawing up a 10-year
operational programme for the ministry.

AMNA--Main opposition Radical Left Coalition (SYRIZA) on Monday accused
the government of being a "silent observer" vis-a-vis developments in
the European Union.

Referring to Spain's decision to ask for eurozone aid to recapitalize its
banks, SYRIZA stressed that this development "points at the European
character of the crisis stemming from the exercised neo-liberal
policy". The statement underlined that "the crisis will become deeper,
condemning the European peoples to destitution and threatening the
existence of the EU for as long as the dominant powers in the EU insist
on austerity measures and fiscal discipline."

SYRIZA stressed that "the Greek government should cease supporting the
EU's dead end policy by being a silent observer of developments." amna

The SYRIZA statement underlined that the exercised policy needs to be
radically changed focusing on boosting economic growth and employment,
by changing the role of the European Central Bank and the European
Investment Bank, and on a European debt settlement that will put an
end to the markets' impunity while, at the same time, introducing a
new financial system architecture.

AMNA--Finance Minister-designate Vassilis Rapanos on Monday afternoon
announced that he will not be able to assume the post, citing health
reasons for his decision.

Prime Minister Antonis Samaras accepted Rapanos' decision and sent him
a letter of appreciation.amna

"I want, first of all, to wish you a recovery from your health problem. I
would like to thank you for the willingness with which you accepted
the role ... and I hope that you will regain your strength soon and
can contribute to the national effort. I know that we can count on your
valuable services," Samaras wrote.

AMNA--An earthquake measuring 5.1 on the Richter scale shook the Aegean
island of Rhodes at 4:10 p.m. on Monday. No damage or injuries have
been reported.

The epicentre of the quake was in the sea 25 kilometres east of the
island. According to geology professor Efthymios Lekkas, the quake is part
of the sequence of aftershocks that followed a 5.8-Richter earthquake
on June 10. Though it was widely felt, it did not especially disturb
residents and visitors on the island.

The search for a Finance Minister following designate Vassilis Rapanos'
decline of the post for health reasons, the complication regarding
who will represent the Greek government at the EU Summit in Brussels,
mostly dominated the headlines on Tuesday in Athens' newspapers.

Equity prices were declining at the opening of trade on Tuesday on the
Athens Stock Exchange (ASE), with the basic share price index down 0.59
percent, standing at 563.43 points at 11:00 am, and turnover at 9.53
million euros.

The FTSE/ASE 20 index for blue chip and heavily traded stocks was down
1.55 percent, while the FTSE/ASE MID 40 index was down 0.29 percent.

Individual sector indices were moving mostly downward, with the only
gains in Personal and Household Goods, up 1.90 percent.

The biggest losses were in Banks, down 3.62 percent; Travel and
Recreation, down 2.84 percent and Raw Materials, down 2.41 percent.

Of the stocks traded, 21 were up, 14 were down, and 10 were unchanged.